New member, wired for sleep

SleepingBetty wrote:

mgaggie wrote:TV?! I didn't have a tv in my room I was in a room in the mega old part of the hospital. If needed to go to the loo, they brought a bed pan in!

They wired me up nearly two hours before bed

Yikes, mgaggie! Was this recently? I know when my husband went through his about 14 years ago, it was more of a hospital like setting, hospital bed and all. But, they did let him get up to go to the bathroom!

It was November last year. In Victoria, Australia. I didn't have to pay for the study (just parking fees) thanks to our universal health care system, so I can't complain.

However when I went for study to work out machine settings, it was in the new section of the hospital with my own bathroom, so go figure?

"Good morning! Your study is over."

"Mmmph. Huh? How did I do?"

"Umm ..."

"You can't really tell me, right?"

"Well ... do you have a follow up appointment scheduled?"

"Yes."

"I would go ahead and keep that appointment if I were you."

CPAP machine, here I come!

welcome to the forum Pootsie! I am new here myself but these folks here are awesome. Good luck with your next appointment

My initial test was done at the hospital but I had my own private room and bathroom. They wired me up and had me get into bed at 9:30pm. I usually don't go to bed until 11:00/11:30pm. It was incredibly cold - my own fault for not speaking up that I needed more blankets. Somehow I don't think you're going to be shy about asking for what you need.

Lol, no, I will not be shy about my needs. Unfortunately, they just had to stick that thing up my nose and wire me up. Nothing to be done about that.

I'll let y'all know what I find out.

I feel like my lurking here has prepared me well to handle what comes next. You guys are the Zzzz's knees!

Glad things went well for you, pootsie! You seem excited about getting your CPAP. That's great, actually, and I totally understand! I think that kind of attitude goes a long way. When I went back to my DME after doing a 2 week auto CPAP trial, he was really surprised that I had used that thing every night, but I told him I was determined to get used to using it and to get the data needed to see if I was having issues. By the time I was done, I had had enough good nights of sleep with subsequent better days that I knew I wanted that machine! And, fortunately for me, he has let me keep it while waiting to get through the studies and get the Rx from my doctor which I should have by next week.

This is an awesome group of people! From what I have seen (I'm new, too), you will have plenty of help and encouragement to get you settled into your new way of sleeping.

Hey, mgaggie, maybe they were in the process of switching things over and you just happened to be one of the lucky ones to get the old section for your initial study! It's great that you didn't have to pay, though. I had free parking, but my OOP is nearly $300 just for that one night. That's an expensive hotel room! Especially with a shared bathroom! I'm not sure I like the idea of universal health care... seems too much like HMO's that I hate! But, I do think our system is terribly broken and needs fixing... too many games that have to be played to get insurance to pay and the costs are astronomical!

I was thinking more along the lines of a Hannibal Lecter mask.

SleepingBetty wrote:I'm not sure I like the idea of universal health care... seems too much like HMO's that I hate! But, I do think our system is terribly broken and needs fixing... too many games that have to be played to get insurance to pay and the costs are astronomical!

well it all depends on how its done. I think the system here in Australia is great. The only time I've ever had to pay for surgery/hospital stay was in the 1980's when the state's nurses walked out. My parents decided to go privately otherwise I would of been on a three year waiting list. In 2010 I was diagnosed with gallstones, saw the specialist and within 90 days I had it removed (it was classed as semi-urgent). The only thing I had to pay for was the painkillers I needed afterwards.

Ok I'll get off my high horse, sorry.

pootsie wrote:"Good morning! Your study is over."

"Mmmph. Huh? How did I do?"

"Umm ..."

"You can't really tell me, right?"

"Well ... do you have a follow up appointment scheduled?"

"Yes."

"I would go ahead and keep that appointment if I were you."

CPAP machine, here I come!

I was told in advance that the techs are not allowed to give us results, so please don't ask and put them in an awkward situation. I did ask if the pressure had changed during the night as I had not noticed it at all and figured that was a good sign.

I do remember her waking me up, and it felt like 2-3 hours in (2 1/2 actually). She said they had enough data and were ready to start the titration. So, I knew I must have proven I had sleep apnea to move on.

I had gone into the study dreading a cpap machine, but it was so easy for me there (the tech picked the perfect mask and fitted it perfectly). And I felt great the next day, and then back to crap. So, I was downright excited to get the machine when I finally got my appointment.

I was actually dreaming about the doctor appointment and wanting to move along and get my machine. In my dream, I was told I would have to wait from April until November to get my machine, and I was very upset. That's how much my asleep brain wanted to use it again.

I've been a big proponent of national single-payer health care for a long time ...

But right now I just want to get a good night's sleep!

Like some of you posting above, I am looking forward to getting my face-hugger installed.

Thank you all for being so sweet

So here is my update:

My second study is cancelled. My AHI is only 10.6. The doctor does not prescribe CPAP for less than 15.

I am instead scheduled for a follow-up consultation for more conservative therapy.

I have to say, if 10.6 is this sleepy and groggy, 15+ must really, really suck. I feel for you!

time for a new doc - over 5 is mild sleep apnea.

pootsie wrote:So here is my update:

My second study is cancelled. My AHI is only 10.6. The doctor does not prescribe CPAP for less than 15.

I am instead scheduled for a follow-up consultation for more conservative therapy.

I have to say, if 10.6 is this sleepy and groggy, 15+ must really, really suck. I feel for you!

I agree with caffe. See a new doctor. I am classed as having mild sleep apnea (I think its 6.9) and I have a machine. Only been on it just over a month but are already noticing a difference.

Yup that's dumb. Your over five. Second opinion time.